In vivo profiling and visualization of cellular protein–lipid interactions using bifunctional fatty acids

Cellular processes are mediated by the concerted action of numerous biomolecules that form complex interaction networks. Considerable efforts have been devoted to elucidating the cellular interactome, with the majority of studies focusing on mapping protein–protein, protein–DNA, and protein– metabolite interaction networks.[1, 2] Yet two-thirds of the cellular proteome operates at a membrane surface or within a membrane comprising thousands of different lipid species. Besides serving as essential building blocks of membranes and anhydrous stores of energy, lipids participate in a multitude of signaling pathways. Perturbations in lipid homeostasis frequently result in human diseases, ranging from neurodegenerative disorders to metabolic syndrome and cancer.[3,4] While these findings imply an intricate interplay between proteins and lipids, only a few studies have been carried out to chart protein–lipid interactions in a systematic fashion.